The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-07-21
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
PRAIRIE GROVE.
a Spirited sketch OF this Hard.FOught Batfl

teutly into the same error that many OF Us DO
of believing that because We were there we
are competent witnesses OF the whole engage
mont, when as a fact the reverse is frequently
the case. il is undoubtedly true that OF what
happens directly in front or on either HANK
IN the immediate vicinity Of c0mrade, IN any
engagement, he is thoroughly cognzant but
of the movements OF other troops, even az a
comparatively short distance from where the
comrade Is engaged, his evidence must 10 "a
great extent be hearsav He says: 1t was not
doubted that the First Division could hold its
position until Herron's arrival and that the
day had gone against them Herron's Divigionl
until ours First Division came in on their
right aud turned the rebels left"
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1852, the First Division
(Blunts), Army of the Frontier, was at Cane
Hill Ark, with its train at Rays Mills, about
six miles north; the Second Division lTotten's)
was at or near Forsyth, Mo-, and the Third
Division (hcrron's) at Wilson's Creek, with
the First Brigade, Third Division, at Twin
Springs 10 miles from Springfield. Dec.
Gen Blunts scouts discovered that the enemy,
under Gen. Hindman, were advancing in force,
and immod lately sent messengers and kilograms
in al directions for relief Wednesday noon,
Dec. 3, Heron received this call for help from
Bluut and Mt 2:30 p, m. we were in motion,
with three days rations and - rounds Of buck
and-hall cartridges
IL OUR HAvERsAcHs.
Our train caught up with us the next morning,
and we soon left il again, not 10 see IL until
Monday night, after the fight. Friday night
we piled our knupsaclss and left them under
guard with the big fellows who were giving mp
and breaking down, and with oyercoats ana
rubber blankets we pushed on in light march
ing order
AZ this time Gen. Heron sent forward the
majority of his cavalry. under Col. Nickersham,
10Th 10, Cav, 90 join Blunt and report our adj
vance Saturday night, Dec. g. about 10 p. m,
rfH. I ID Il. H.
would be at Fayetteville early Sunday morn
ing few hours before Blunt had learned
that the enemy had got between him and the
turnpike 30 Van Buren,, and he az once at
tempted to warn Heron, but il was too late;
his messengers were captured by Marnaduke's
cavalry.
Early Sunday morning Hindman succeeded
in turning Blunts flank, and was reaching for
his train at Rays Mills, when, 10 his surprise,
he ran into and locked horns with HerrOns
adyonce-a squadron Of the LIST Ark. Cav
which was forced back bya
MUCH SUPERIOR FORCE
Of Mamadukes cavalry, which, in turn, was
driven by our infantry. Five companies of the
Goth Wis. were now dcployed ms skirmishers,
the left resting on the road, and drove the
enemy about three miles, part of the time on
the doube-Quck 10 and across Illinois Creek.
Here we We're halted in the edge of the woods.
One Of our batteries went across and was soon
Gen. Heron now sent downthe creek through
the woods two other batteries with the Second
Brigade as support. who succeeded in occupy
ing little hill and opened such a hot fire that
the enemy were forced TO allow the first bat
terry lours) 10 recrOss at the ford, which il did
Our skirmishline now advanced across the
prairie toward the hill, where Hindman had
taken his position, and which we were after
ward 0sssaut, driving the enemy's skirmishers
until they were protected by their line of battle
Here we rested in line, occasionally exchang-
ing shots until about noon, when we were re-
lieved by one wing OF the 9th i'll. or Goth Ind,
and ordered 10 rejoin our regiment The Cap
tain commanding us-Pettibone j think
formed us in line on the left. and by the com
mand, " Left iace-Forward by file left !" took
as TO the rear. This brought us into solid col
umn by tours with the rebel battery in direct
line on our flank, and we hadn't more than got
Strengthened out before
THEY TRIED TO RAKE Us.
Fortunately their elevation was TOO great, and
at their first shot We were on the double-quick,
looking back over our shoulders. At the fash
we would fall on our faces, and as we heard the
whir of the grape, would jump mp and run.
We very shortly rejOined our regiment under
cover of the woods, and then cnsued IN artillery
duel until the onemy's guns were silenced
Then came the charge of the First Brigade
IL was formed in echelOn, the goth Wis In the
advance and the 18th Iowa and the Gath III
following. Over that prairie we went. At the
foot of the hill we met the first line OF rebels
and rushed them up the Hill, captured the bat.
terry, and sent something like a hundred pris
oners to the rear. Then on for the second line
we were going TO =" lick the whole COufed
eracy-iorcing il back, through the orchard
into the timber. Then they came back for ms
and for a few minutes il was give and take
but that buttenut line was 100 heavy for us
and we got down that hill lively, leaving
OVER TWO HUNDRED
OF our boys goth Wis., killed aud wounded il
that orchard and under those guns
As we got down into the prairie the Secon,
Brgade-37th I'll. and 26th Ind.-went il
where we came out. They captured that bat
terry, and again it was retaken, and they haS
10 get back out Of that IL was no use for les
than 900 infantry and three batteries to try 4
capture 10000 Johnnies And Heron was no
trying 10 capture, but 10 amuse Hindman unit
Blunt could come in OH our right
And so, licked and licking, we stood OF
Hindman until nearly or quite 2:3O when W
heard Bluuts guns on our right. At 6rst W
thought we were fanked, but the cheers of th
boys of Blunts Division soon treasured us, an
then-well, VIC hOlered some ourselves.
That night Hindman retreated under cove
Of truce 20 care for wounded, wrapping tb
wheels of his guns and wagons with blanket
% deadcn the sound. Our brigade was CON
posed Of
less than four months in the service, and thi
was our baptism of fire." After dark tina
night we marched between the ranks Of th
veterans Of the 37th III. and Goth Ind, heroc
Of Pea Ridge, aud heard their verdict, Boy
you did well f" and it was the proudest mt
ment of my life, either before or since
Bunt's Division was a noble one, and fouRf
Hike brave men long and well. They marche
and fought for seven long miles-frOm Can
Hill 10 Prairie Grove-betwcen a. m. whe
they FIRST heard HerrOns guns, and 3 D. M
when they formed the junction with our RICH
They performed a grand feat, and i wi
yield 10 no one in my admiration Of ii
gallant Gen. Blunt, and his no 10
fRllant comrades who did this but
was one of the kids" who marched ov,
120 miles in 30 hours and then fought all da
j want 10 ask COmrade Quaife if lac wasn't in
shout glad TO hear Hcrron's guns in d
morning and form junction with us in the afte
noon he thinks we were to hear Blunt
guns that afternoon at 2.30?"
OF the foregoing there is some hearsay al
some evidence, taken from letters, etc, b
Shat which relates 10 the goth Wis is cold ia,
Dor " j was there" j can distinctly rememb
HOW SCARED WAS
nt the time we made our charge right up
she instant we went in, and the sudden rev.
aiOn of my feelings when j began TO shoot.
was q little fellow then, and my place was
Che extreme left Of the company, but AS
formed for that charge the Orderly sang oil
"Come up here, Fred" Dear old fellow
"A 10 .lra ,F nd 10. a,